Baal Shem Tov
(1698-1760)
Born Israel Ben Eliezer in the late 17th-century in Poland, Baal Shem Tov, which means Master Of The Good Name, grew up in the time when Jewish people were suffering much persecution and slaughter. His parents died when he was young, and it is said that they were over 100 years old when he was born. He traveled, finding work where he could, and grew into a strong, determined and independent young man. In one of his jobs he became a caretaker in a synagogue. It was during this time that he had the opportunity to study and obtain an outstanding level of knowledge in Jewish spirituality, including the mysteries of the Kabbalah. Despite his growing wisdom and mastery, he publicly maintained an image of simplicity. He was drawn to solitude. Early on in his life he began to contemplate truth in relation to the culture in which he was growing up.
He married young, and his wife died soon after. He was then betrothed to a child, and he took her with him into the Carpathian Mountains, settling in a small Jewish community of poor peasants living close to the Earth. Soon his desire to know God led him into the wilderness to embrace a life of asceticism and solitude. His young wife by now had grown very devoted to him. She traveled back and forth between his camp and town, selling clay that was mined from the mountain to the village potters in town. In this way they were able to support themselves. Israel spent much time in prayer and contemplation during this period. One day he had visions in which the prophets Elijah, Shijah, and Shilonite appeared to him. They revealed to him that the power of prayer lay in inner devotion. He began to receive information in the form of mystical truths such as those received by Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, and other great spiritual teachers. He continued to focus his attention inward for many years as he expanded in his spiritual understanding and wisdom. Then a time came, in his 40th year, in which he received the message, “The time has come for you to reveal yourself.”
The Baal Shem Tov then began to spread his teachings, and became a great healer. He tirelessly traveled to all the villages in the area, helping anyone in need, the sick, the hopeless, the outcast, the thief, and the poor. All who had contact with him were blessed. There are many stories of the miracles he performed.
The Baal Shem Tov traveled so often and so quickly between villages, that it seemed to some that he could be in more than one place at a time, an ability often attributed to great and powerful spiritual beings. One story tells how a young man, who was a guest of the Baal Shem Tov, woke up at midnight, frightened because he thought the house was on fire. He jumped up only to find that the body of the sleeping Baal Shem was emanating a huge spiritual radiance in the form of a flame.
The Baal Shem Tov’s primary focus was on bringing people together. He was interested in creating connections, as he considered unity to be a path to understanding ourselves. No one was left out of this circle, all were included; saints and sinners, wealthy and poor, healthy or sick, young or old, male or female. All are connected by the divine thread of God and sewn together with love and compassion. He taught others to unselfishly enjoy life and live with deep and humble gratitude. The Baal Shem Tov pointed out that it was only a self-centered and selfish person who could be unhappy, for one who was aware of the truths of humanity would rejoice, and this joy would reveal God. He did not found a school of thought or religion, although he is thought to be the founder of modern Hasidism. Once a disciple attempted to write down his words, The Baal Shem Tov said, “There is nothing of me in your pages; you thought you heard what I didn't say.” Yet he soon became widely known, as he developed a great following of devoted disciples.
At 60 years of age he became sick and sensed that he was leaving his body. When his disciples gathered around, prepared to mourn, he told them, “Why do you cry? I am leaving by one door, only to enter by another.”
Though he never recorded any of his teachings, his disciples did, and a great transformative movement within the Jewish spiritual community began, becoming known as Hasidism, or Chassidus, meaning “piety.”
Teachings and quotes from the Baal Shem Tov~
“The world is new to us every morning―this is God's gift; and every man should believe he is reborn each day.”
“The Earth shall rest as a Sabbath to the Lord, give earthiness a rest; permeate it with the Sabbath of spirituality and holiness.”
“You shall establish three cities of refuge―we all possess three personal cities of refuge: our sacred thoughts, speech, and deeds.”
“Before you can find God, you must lose yourself.”
“Everything above and below is one unity.”
“For any of us to come to the understanding that we are common and unlearned is the accomplishment of a lifetime.”
“There is no room for God in the man who is filled with himself.”
“When a father complains that his son has taken to evil ways, what should he do? Love him more than ever.”
“We should learn and reflect to the best of our capacity, but when we reach a point where we are unable to make sense of life, we should supplant faith for understanding, and reflect again on what we do know.”
“He who is full of joy is full of love.”
Jewish history is the history of the Jewish religion, philosophy, tradition and faith. Baal Shem Tov founded the religion known as Hasidic Judaism to focus on spiritual growth and healing and less on academics. His fame as a faith healer spread throughout the whole area. Some today might think of him more as a psychic healer because of his intuitive insight to the needs of the masses. During the prophet time he spoke of growth in the spiritual sense. He was not a prophet of mysticism, he was a healer, and his life was about his spiritual healing practices.